Latest news with #UKFT


Fashion United
5 days ago
- Business
- Fashion United
UK government introduces new trade measures for developing countries
The UK government has introduced new measures that intend to simplify imports from developing countries. The changes come under the Developing Countries Trading Scheme and, according to a press release, aim to 'lower prices on everyday goods while supporting growth in some of the world's poorest nations'. The measures particularly address imports from countries like Nigeria, Sri Lanka and the Philippines, for which rules of origin have been simplified, allowing goods from such regions to enter the UK tariff-free. Updates also reaffirm the zero tariff policy already in place for countries such as Bangladesh and Cambodia, covering products like garments and electronics. Such changes intend to allow UK consumers to have greater access to "competitively priced imports'. For businesses, meanwhile, the government hopes to encourage the building of resilient supply chains, investments in emerging markets and opportunities in fast-growing economies. UK ministers briefed British business leaders and global ambassadors on the updates at a reception in London on July 10. The updates have been welcomed by executives at notable UK retailers and fashion trade organisations. Both the director of sourcing at Marks & Spencer, Monique Leeuwenburgh, and Primark's interim CEO, Eoin Tonge, backed the changes, expressing support for a scheme that will help each company to maintain relationships with their existing supplier network, they both noted in respective statements. Commenting on the news, the CEO of the UK Fashion & Textile Association (UKFT), Adam Mansell, said: 'UKFT welcomes these additional changes to the Rules of Origin under the DCTS, which will bring real benefits to the fashion industry in the UK and in DCTS countries. The new rules demonstrate a genuine commitment from the government to modernise trade policy to support global economic growth. At a time of such uncertainty in international trade, these reforms are especially welcome.'


Fashion United
26-06-2025
- Automotive
- Fashion United
Westminster MA menswear graduates showcase collections at Milan fashion week
Graduates of the University of Westminster's MA Menswear course showcased their collections on June 25, 2025, during Milan's official men's fashion week, Milano Collezioni Uomo. The event, held at the 247 Showroom, was supported by the UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT) and facilitated by the British Consulate in Milan. Eighteen designers presented the culmination of their two-year postgraduate study to an international audience of press, buyers, and industry professionals. This event provided graduates with an opportunity to present their work in a professional showroom environment typically accessed by established brands. In addition to the collections, the program featured discussions and exhibitions designed to foster cross-border industry relationships between the UK and Italy. Complementing the graduate showcase, the exhibition "Cut from a Different Cloth" examined the lasting influence of tailoring across decades. It featured five women's garments from Alexander McQueen's time with Romeo Gigli in 1991, loaned by Fondazione Sozzani. The exhibition also included ten archival menswear pieces from McQueen's 1996–2000 collections, sourced from Westminster's own archive, illustrating the combination of British tailoring and Italian production. Westminster University MA Menswear Credits: UKFT The exhibition's final section presented new work by current MA Menswear graduates. These garments were developed through direct research of the McQueen archives and discussions with members of the McQueen design team, offering a contemporary interpretation of tailoring heritage. A panel discussion, moderated by Professor Andrew Groves, Director of the Westminster Menswear Archive, included participants from both academia and industry. Contributors included Paul Alger (UKFT), Paul Toner (Deputy Editor of 10 Magazine ), and designer–educator Andrea Cammarosano. The discussion addressed the opportunities and challenges facing emerging menswear designers and explored how UK–Italy collaboration in fashion and textiles could be strengthened. Following the panel, Paul Alger interviewed several graduates, including Alex Page, Yuechen, Venus Studio, and Xinyue Zhang. The UKFT also used this occasion to engage with British-Italian fashion entrepreneurs, attending the Milan launch of Mark//Giusti, a retail brand formerly based in the UK. Westminster University MA Menswear Credits: UKFT The University of Westminster's MA Menswear course, established in 2017 and led by Professor Groves, is recognized for its focus on both conceptual creativity and commercial viability, with many alumni progressing into notable roles in the fashion industry. UKFT's involvement in the Milan showcase is part of its broader efforts to address skills gaps in British fashion manufacturing and education. The event also precedes the launch of a new MA in Fashion Manufacturing at Westminster in September 2025. This program aims to support sustainability, innovation, and future-oriented production strategies. The Westminster presentation in Milan highlights the increasing global reach of British fashion education and the significance of strategic collaboration between academia and industry. Through archival research, contemporary design, and international engagement, the showcase demonstrated how historical craftsmanship continues to influence the future of menswear. Westminster University MA Menswear Credits: UKFT
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New tool aims to boost UK fashion and textile sector compliance
The compliance tool has been developed by the institute's Textiles Transparency Team (MFITT), part of the Manchester Metropolitan University. Fashtrax is designed to provide straightforward guidance on compliance, particularly in the wake of impending regulations like the EU Digital Product Passport (DPP). The platform is funded by InterAct, which is a £5.4m ($7.29m) Made Smarter Innovation and economic and social research council-led network. The tool also has support from the UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT). Fashtrax connects the academia, technology provider and industry in providing solutions that can address real-world challenges. It integrates more than 100 regulations with more than 40 environmental standards, utilising data from the UKRI-funded Legi-Standards database project. Project co-lead Julie Hodson said: 'Fashtrax is designed to simplify compliance in a complex world. With regulation coming from all angles, particularly around sustainability and transparency, small and medium-sized businesses often don't have the resources to keep up. This platform changes that, offering clear, actionable insights and tools.' Central to the Fashtrax platform is the Compliance Navigator, a diagnostic tool that provides customised recommendations based on various company-specific factors like size, product type, and supply chain footprint. The Compliance Navigator is currently under development and will undergo trials with 20 industry partners this summer with a full release scheduled for late 2025. MFITT co-lead and founder Dr Hilde Heim said: 'This is about futureproofing UK fashion. Fashtrax empowers brands to adapt quickly and cost-effectively to new rules, while embedding transparency and innovation at the heart of their business models. 'Fashtrax marks a major step forward in preparing manufacturers for digitalising the fashion supply chain. It drives innovation, sustainability, and competitiveness across the UK garment sector. Our vision is for it to become the go-to platform for enhancing transparency, efficiency, and sustainability in global fashion supply chains.' The initiative has already influenced research, education, and policy-making. It has reinforced MFITT's position in supply chain transparency research within the SAFE group and has led to new collaborative efforts to create a consumer-oriented version of the platform. Fashtrax's findings are disseminated through various channels such as webinars and presentations to influential organisations including the UKFT and the EU Commission's Joint Research Centre. Interest in Fashtrax extends to several UK institutions such as the British Fashion Council and WRAP. Soon, it will be presented to the British Standards Institution (BSI) and the government's Circular Economy Taskforce. Dr Heim added: 'As the fashion industry undergoes digital transformation, the MFITT research team is proud to support this shift. Fashtrax is poised to be a game-changer for the fashion industry, offering clear benefits for the economy, manufacturers, and technology suppliers.' The InterAct network aims to address challenges from the wide implementation of new technologies in the industry. The programme has already funded more than 30 projects across diverse topics related to digital technology applications in manufacturing. In March this year, digital fashion technology firm Style3D partnered with Manchester Metropolitan University to establish Styleverse, the company's first garment simulation hub in the UK. "New tool aims to boost UK fashion and textile sector compliance" was originally created and published by Just Style, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UKFT Drops Supply Chain Responsibility Report
The UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT) has rallied the troops to strengthen the United Kingdom's social and compliance efforts as the UK works to boost domestic production and encourage responsible reshoring. Produced by UKFT with support from UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) and the Circular Fashion Innovation Network (CFIN), the responsible supply chain report is informed by workshops with brands and retailers, textile and garment manufacturers, and social and ethical compliance experts. More from Sourcing Journal FedEx Cuts 2025 Guidance Again in Warning Sign for US Economy ThredUp's Resale Report Shows How Tariffs and AI Could Impact Secondhand This Year Circ Raises $25M in Oversubscribed Round led by Taranis The resulting 'Responsible UK Fashion and Textile Supply Chains' report represents a 'vital step' in the UK fashion and textile ecosystem's reshoring efforts, per the UKFT, compiling solutions and recommendations of relevance as required for UK manufacturing to 'thrive' in both innovation and responsibility. 'By identifying key opportunities and practical solutions, we aim to create positive change that benefits manufacturers, brands and retailers alike,' Adam Mansell, UKFT's CEO, said in the report. 'As global supply chains undergo rapid changes, regulatory requirements grow and businesses aim for ambitious sustainability goals, the opportunities for UK fashion and textile manufacturing have never been greater.' Those opportunities lie in the industry's shortcomings, such as increased fragmentation, lack of standardized commercial knowledge and inaccessibility to information or platforms relevant to both buyers and manufacturers. For instance, the UKFT's 2023 sustainability survey alleged that 70 percent of UK-based manufacturers want to learn more about ethical compliance—and retailers agreed, noting the missing support and guidance manufacturers need to understand and implement regulations. 'Through extensive consultations with stakeholders across the UK fashion and textile supply chain, we have gathered valuable insights to help the industry improve social and ethical compliance practices in UK manufacturing which are outlined in this report,' Mansell said. 'This understanding is key to increasing domestic manufacturing capacity that can meet the evolving needs of the retail market, unlock new opportunities and address the unique challenges faced by UK manufacturers.' On the topic of that extensive stakeholder input, the report outlines opportunities across five domains: legislation and policy, training and education, tools and systems, incentives and funding, and demystifying standards. The idea, per the UKFT, is that its experience-shaped recommendations, 'building on its commitment to ethical and sustainable practices,' will help position the UK as a leader in responsible manufacturing. 'The benefits of domestic sourcing are clear: greater responsiveness, flexibility, a smaller carbon footprint and improved visibility into manufacturing environments,' Mansell said. 'By addressing the social and ethical compliance landscape, we can fully unlock these opportunities and drive positive growth for the manufacturing industry here in the UK.' The report was produced through the CFIN: an industry-led program led by the UK Fashion and Textile Association and the British Fashion Council in partnership with UK Research and Innovation. It, therefore, falls under the network's sustainable manufacturing pillar, which was established to support the industry in reducing the environmental impact (see: waste) from the UK's production processes. 'We know that brands and retailers are increasingly looking into local manufacturing solutions,' Mansell said. 'And UK manufacturers are exploring ways to expand production and increase capacity.'